Adjustable switch-box.



E. H. KRUSE. ADJUSTABLESWITGH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED 001214, 1909.

Patented Apr. 18, 1911.

lV/TNESSES: 11v ruvnmn UNITED STATES Parana OFFICE.

EDWARDFH. KRUSE, or roar WAYNE, INDIANA.

ADJUSTABLE SWITCH-BOX.

To all whom it may camera:

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. KRUSE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Wayne, inthe county of Allen, in the I State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in -Adjustable Switch-Boxes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it a pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in adjustable switch boxes,-especially designed for use in incandescent lighting.

It is well known'thatin setting switch boxes for new up the electric wiring of a building seldom get the plastering even or flush with the outer edge of the box, and therefore it is generally necessary to block up th'e Switch-box closing'plate by means of washers, instead of mounting such plate squarely and firmly the usual form and dimensions, and provided upon two opposite sides thereof, preferably the top and bottom, with supporting slotted brackets between which the box has a limited adjustment to bringits outer edge 40 in proper relation tov the plastering about the same; means for guiding the box in its adjustmentspand means for moving it in or out at pleasure.

Similar reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views of the drawings in which Figure 1 is a front elevat-iorrofmy invention showing the usual ears for securing it in position, the bifurcated ends of the brackets in which the box slides, the screws in the bottom of the box for making the adjustment, and showing a plurality of the vusual knock outs for the admission of the wires. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same showing the brackets as fixed to the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 14, I909.

and Fig. 5 is a detail of the washer.

work the plasterers who follow W Patented Apr. 18,1911. Serial No. 522,517.

lath, and showing by dotted outline how the box is adjusted inwardly to rest against the plastering of which a fragmentary view is shown. This 'view also shows the relative arrangement of the means for guiding the 6 box in its adjustments, and the means by which the adjustments are made. Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the slotted supporting brackets between which the switch-box 1 is mounted and adjusted. Fig. 4 is a side view of one of the adjusting screws, having thereon a form of split washer which I employ, Fi 6 shows a gang box for a plurality of switcl ies, the lath on which it is fixed and the plastering upon which it abutsbeing shown in a fragmentary view, and the flush plate with its switch buttons being partly broken away.

The box 1, of proper size, contour and dimensions has the outer edge upon its upper andlower sides provided with the'usual or other proper over-turned ears2, having a lateral perforation 3 for proper hold-ing screws, not shown. Adjacent to the outer face of the .upper and lower sides of the 30 box 1 are arranged the horizontal brackets 4 having their outer end bifurcated as shown in Fig. 3, and provided with the outwardly turned lugs 5 having suitable lateral perforations 6 for the screw 7 by 35 means of which the brackets are rigidly secured to the lath 8. The inner ends of the brackets are inwardly turned to form lugs 9 having lateral screw threaded openings for the adjusting machine screwslO which are loosely mounted in lateral openings in the bottom of the box 1.

In use the heads of the screws 10 have washers 11. The heads of the screws 10 are kept firmly pressed to their position in use by means of the lock nuts '12. Instead of employing the lock nuts 12 the screw 10 may have an annular. groove therein near its head and a split washer clamped in the groove, the use of which avoids removal of the screw from its operative position.

The brackets 4 are provided with a longitudinal slot 13 through which loosely pass the short screws 14 which are secured in suitable screw-threaded openings in the adjacent sides of the box. The head 15 of the screws 14 is of suflicient width to extend beyond the sides of the slots 13, as shown in Fig. 3, whereby the box 1 and its supporting brackets 4 are firmly held in their cooperative relation. and at the same time the box has a free slidable adjustment upon such brackets in the manner hereafter described.

As stated the brackets 4 are preferably bifurcated and have oneapcrtured ear 5 upon each side of the ear 2, though obviously such bifurcation is not a material mat- 'ter and may be omitted.

.knoeleout 18 for the switclr wires not shown.

The manner of employing my invention thus described is obvious and briefly stated is as follows: The operator ttrst lixcs the invention in position upon the laths S, as

shown in Fig. 1, with the outer edge of the box I adjusted outwardly far enough to leave plenty of room for the required thickness of the plastering 7, after which he adjusts the box inwardly by the rotation of the screws 10 until the cars 2 are brought firmly against the plastering, as shown by dotted outline in Fig. 2, after which the box 'is firmly secured in position-by proper screws in the ears 2, after which the closing plate 17 is fixed in position in the usual manner by the screws 19. As it iswell known that the inner face of the plate 17 is recessed to receive the ears 2 itis evident that when the box 1 is adjusted to its position the plate 17 will rest squarely against the plastering without the necessity of any blocking out by the use of washers orother means. It is also evident that when my invention is mounted in old work, or walls already plastered, it is a great convenience, and makes a much neater job to be able to thus adjustthe switch box to the thickness of the plastering.

It is obvious that in the use of my invention an adjustment of the switch box to compensate for ditl'ercnt thicknesses of plastering, is secured, without: disturbing the supporting brackets therefor, and that the means for making such adjustment is conveniently accessible to the operator.

llaving thus described my invention and the'manner of employingthe same, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An adjustable switch box consistin of a. plurality of fixed brackets having t eir inner ends provided with screw threaded openings, and having a longitudinal slot between their ends, a switch box horizontally adjust-able between the brackets, screws fixed in the sides of the box and in the said slots to secure the box and brackets in their operative relation, and a plurality of adjusting screws operatively connecting the boxv with the-brackets.

2. A switch box; a pair of oppositely arranged brackets between which the box is adjustably mounted and adjusting screws loosely mounted in the inner face ofthe box and having a screw-threaded connection with the brackets.

3. In an adjustable switch box, fixed brackets in approximately vertical alinement and horizontal arrangement; a switch box horizontally adjustable on the said brackets; means for securing the box and brackets in their operative relation; and adjusting screws operat-ively connecting the'inner face of the box with the rear ends of the brackets.

t. A'horizontally adjustable switch-box; lixed brackets between which the interposed switch-box is slidably mounted means for securing the switch-box and the brackets in their proper working relation; and means for imparting to the switch-box its horizontal adjustment, said means being operatively supported in the inner face of the box.

Signed by me at Fort Wayne, Allen county, State of Indiana, this 11th day of October,

EDWARD H: KRU SE.

Witnesses AUGUSTA Vmnnc, WATTS P. DENNY. 

